December Already?

 

The 'cages' for the post holes were delivered the first week of Nov. and then on the 10^th it was decided the holes could not be dug with a Bobcat since they hit caliche around 4 ½ ft down which is what Larry had told them back in April when they came out to draw up the plans. When the 'big rig' came out the operator said he could not dig because the holes would be too close to the house and any hard rocks and such could jolt the digger up to three feet and that would hit the house, not a good scenario! After three weeks of trying to figure out what to do next, on the 30^th they brought out two Bobcats and taking it easy, have made some headway without having to go back to the drawing board. At the rate we are going, I'm just hoping it will be finish by next April!

                                                         The cages that go in the post holes

                                                       One post hole finally done at 6 ft deep

                                                          Both Bobcats going full steam

                                                                          Larry helping
 

Our granddaughter, Bethany has moved to Colorado Springs, CO and we had a going away party for her on Nov 13.

                                                               Loading Bethany's car

                                                        

                                                    Bethany saying goodby to her niece

We had a quiet Thanksgiving with just the four of us basically eating and snacking most of the day and we ended up by playing Mexican Train.

Larry has been to the VA several times this month and seems to be getting his health in order. His new dentures are working good and he definitely is enjoying eating again! I had another dermatology appt. and this time no cutting which is a good thing. I did have several spots frozen on my arms.

 

                                                           One of Larry's latest projects

Since the weather has finally cooled down to decent temperatures. I'm backing to walking again regularly and enjoy getting out. We are making the best of the present situation and feel blessed.

One of our neighbors shared a picture of a hawk that likes to sit in their backyard. Such an awesome picture of wildlife in the desert!

Finally!

The month started out the same as it has been basically all summer, with doctor and dentist appointments followed by visiting the grocery store before heading back home.

Our ballots arrived and we have them mailed off hopefully in plenty of time since that happened two weeks before election day.

We had a surprise cool down of 23º in one day and actually turned on the heat for two nights. That means I have been able to walk during the day for over a week now which is really nice. I discovered a house being built, almost done, that wasn't even started when I last walked during the day in late April.  It has been way to hot during the day to walk all summer long.

We have been waiting over six months to have an RV cover put over our pad and finally were told they would be coming out on Thursday, October 29 and that we needed to move the motorhome before they arrived so Tuesday October 27 we moved the MH out in front of the kid's house.  On Thursday when Connor came out we learned because of a hard dig with the pool, they cannot use a bobcat as planned and will use a well driller type rig so we had to move the trailer also, something that required putting the tires back on and a lot of moving things around. That was completed yesterday with the trailer also in the front driveway. We are so thankful we have the truck to move the trailer instead of using the MH as it was a chore to get the MH positioned!   God is good all the time!!

                                                               Our 'new' site for awhile
 

                                                        Putting on the tires to move the trailer

                               Getting the tires off the front of the trailer where they have been stored

                                                           Amazing how big our 'pad' is!

                                               Getting ready to pull the trailer out with the truck

                                                           The trailer's 'new' home for awhile

                                                              Great AZ sunset picture!

Will Summer ever end?

 

September has been my least favorite month ever since we moved to AZ in 1977 because it is supposed to cool down when the kids go back to school but it doesn't and this year was no exception. So far in 2020 Phoenix has had 133 days at 100º or above and we are still counting!!  The all time record is 143 days and we just may tie or break that record.

After four months, Larry finally (on Sept. 30) has his new dentures with the bottom attached with four implant posts so he is learning how to eat food all over again. It means I have to start cooking again as during the four months he was without teeth he put his food in the VitaMix and I ate salad.

On the 10 of Sept. we had a wind storm that tore the awning on the Man Cave is two and Shade Pro came out and put up a new one on Sept 18. We went with a lighter color (gray instead of black) and Larry likes it a lot better. When taking the old awning down we discovered the arms were not as they should be so that was fixed also.

We had a late birthday party on Sept.19 for Larry, thinking he was going to get his new teeth but that didn't happen. We had the party anyway and Larry had to VitaMix his burger as we had take out from Red Robin (his choice). The birthday card from Dawn and Vince says it all!

Same old, Same old

 

August was a really slow month for us but really hot too.  So far this has been a record hot summer for Phoenix on many fronts. The monsoon has been a 'nonsoon' but finally on August 29 we had a nice rain of ½ inch.  No pictures because it was at night.

Another rainbow from our "nonsoon"

Larry finally had his Inspire surgery the 27^th and is staying quiet to heal. We had planned to go on an Alaskan cruise to celebrate our 60^th anniversary but all cruises to AK were cancelled in April because of Covid 19 so instead we stayed home for Larry to rest from his surgery. I was able to re-connect with the Chaplain who married us at Bunker Hill AFB in Peru, IN.  We had a nice visit.  I was glad he is still alive.

                                 1960  Isn't he handsome?!

                            60 years later 2020

Really HOT!

We've had some really hot (118º on July 30) weather for July with no rain for us.

Phoenix Sky Harbor (where the 'official' Phoenix weather is recorded) did have a nice downpour

one evening but we didn't get a drop. We could see rain all around us though.

Rainbow but no rain for us

We continue to stay home mostly with the exceptions of going to the doctor or chiropractor and then stopping at the store afterwards for necessary supplies.

On the 18^th I had an hour Zoom meeting with my cousins that I hadn't seen since 2011 when we all met in Tucson for a few days. It was fun catching up with them!

The 22^nd I woke up to a flooded kitchen, finding our 18 month old Moen faucet had failed. I called Moen but because of COVID, they were only taking “appointments” for phone calls. I made one for the next day, got up early to be sure to catch the call only it never happened! Since we live in a MH we have very limited space and just could not wait so we went to Lowe's and bought another Moen faucet, upgrading to a higher arc as the other one was too low. Thankfully Larry is good at repairing things and put the new one in. It didn't take long for the false floor boards to dry out in 110º heat so he was able to put them back in. I wrote to Moen (we decided to stay with them as they are the only ones made in the USA) and expressed my dissatisfaction and a few days later they wrote back and sent me a replacement of the upgraded faucet! That really surprised me as it was $50 more than the failed one! Now all we have to do is return the replacement to Lowe's with our receipt.

How great is that?

Water damage under the kitchen sink

New higher arc kitchen faucet

July 31 we had a combined birthday party for Bethany and Krista getting take out from Olive Garden. After dark we swam about an hour and Iliana loved it and really kicked her feet while her daddy held her. She just laughed and laughed. It was also the first time I actually did some swimming. The outside temperature was 102º so the pool felt great. We also played a game much of the night called “How well do you know me” where we really learned a lot about each other. We ended at midnight after a really nice evening.

Bethany's birthday 'pie'

Larry in the pool

Another shot of the pool

Repairs

Basically all we've done this past month is go to the doctor as both of us have had surgery.

Larry has four posts in his lower jaw to hold his dentures in and will go back the middle of July for his new relined dentures so he can at least eat again (he has been using our VitaMix to grind up his food so he drinks his meals.)   It will be several months before the posts are 'set' with the final dentures that attach to the posts.  I've had two different surgeries for skin cancer and both are healing well.  Larry is waiting on a device to take the place of his C-PAP machine that has given him so much trouble.  The main problem now is the COVID 19 uptick in AZ so 'elective surgeries' are postponed until further notice.

Larry did do some work putting the gutter under the walkway and driveway and making a covering for the east side of the motorhome so it wouldn't be so hot inside as we've had some unusually hot days for June. 

Replacing the sidewalk tiles after installing the drain

Shading himself from the sun while digging the ditch across the driveway

Putting up the awning rail on the side of the MH

Sewing the awning material for the side of the MH

We also covered the windshield with a covering we bought 16 years ago and haven't used in probably 13 years as we have been in cooler places during the summer and it wasn't needed.  Another of his projects was making a fold-able backsplash for my stove for when I fry bacon.  Since we have limited space, the grease flies all over the place and this will help considerably!

Windshield cover to keep the sun off the front

Fold-able stove backsplash in folded position

Showing the stove backsplash in its open position

We were sadden to learn of the unexpected passing of one of our dear RV friends three days after his 90^th birthday around the beginning of June. We are in contact with his widow and she is doing OK and spending more time with her children.

Getting Hotter

May 1 Phoenix had a very nice Fly Over from Luke AFB to honor the health care workers and first responders and I did see it but wasn't able to get any pictures as it was really quick (there were 17 planes) and I was several miles away and didn't realize until almost too late what I was seeing.

Larry has been telling me to get a new phone for several months now but I just didn't want to spend the money. I did 'look' on the site and could not believe my eyes when I saw the new I-Phone SE for 99¢ so I went ahead and bought one and then they credited my account 99¢!  I was able to sell my old phone for $100 so it was a win win situation.

We are slowly going back out and have had two chiropractic appts this past month.  I had a dermatology appt. and Larry saw an outside ENT for the Inspire transplant for sleep apnea since he has had so many problems with his C-Pap machine.  Hopefully it will get in the works soon.

Since spring came early to AZ, I delayed doing spring cleaning but couldn't delay it any longer and finally was able to get all the rugs, filters and covers washed and cleaned. We bought air purifiers and I was shocked at how dirty they became in just one week!  They will need weekly cleaning from now on but hopefully that will help Larry with his allergies.

We have once again started play Train with Dawn and Vince on Friday nights. We also had a small birthday party for Vince.  We ordered from Red Robin for takeout and they made only one mistake.

Vince's birthday party

Vince's birthday cake

Larry has been working hard at moving our sewer line so we can have an RV cover put over the MH. He did a good job and he also buried the electric cord in a 4” pipe to help keep it out of the AZ sun.

Larry moving the sewer line under the living room slide out

Where Larry buried the electric cord to protect it from the harsh AZ sun

Dawn and Vince's pool was supposed to be done May 31 but still has some more work to be done. It is looking good though.

Pool with the lights on

Pool with the Cool Decking done, but not finished yet

Staying at Home

Since we are 'sheltering in place' we have had to rely on things that happened “at home” for excitement.

April 3 the pool was delivered and caused quite a stir throughout the neighborhood. It was something to watch as the crane took the pool over the house and into the backyard. Unfortunately it isn't supposed to be totally done until the end of May.

the backyard on 4/30/20

We have had several food deliveries from Costco, Sam's, Butcher Box and Organic Bread of Heaven so we didn't have to go out.

We were saddened to learn our Alaska cruise set for the 1^st of Sept ember to celebrate our 60^th wedding anniversary was cancelled by the cruise line. Now we have to figure out someplace else to go, possibly Cottonwood or Sedona.

Because of Larry's health problems, he decided he needed to sell the motorcycle and that happened April 26. I had a tear or two as I watched the fellow ride it out of the driveway.

our BMW driving away for the last time

April 25^th as I was walking I saw an owl sitting on the power lines. It's always fun to see wildlife! I do try to walk everyday including when it gets hot. On those days I walk at night around the driveway until I walk a mile, usually within 20 minutes.

Owl I saw on my walk

We have had some really unusual hot weather for April topping 102º for us. Phoenix doesn't usually have a 100º day until mid May! And it has stayed with us and is supposed to stay like this for another two weeks! I'll end on an up note as we still have beautiful AZ sunsets!

Note the sliver of the moon in upper left